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Ett kulthus - eller bara ett kul hus? Ett animalosteologiskt perspektiv på en hyddbotten på den mesolitiska boplatsen Skateholm II

Persson, Åsa LU (2012) ARKK01 20111
Archaeology
Abstract
The aim of this paper has been to undertake an osteological investigation of an unresearched bone assemblage of a hut construction from the late mesolithic dwelling site of Skateholm on the south coast of Sweden. The hut construction, named Construction 24, has been interpreted as a construction for ceremonial activities by earlier researchers (Larsson 1988b). This interpretation is challenged by the new information from the osteological investigation. The occurrence of articulated bone elements, earlier considered to be offerings, has been found to derive from butchering refuse. Concentrations of fish bones can be explained by cleaning of the hut floor rather than as conscious depositions. Futhermore, no antlers from red deer has been... (More)
The aim of this paper has been to undertake an osteological investigation of an unresearched bone assemblage of a hut construction from the late mesolithic dwelling site of Skateholm on the south coast of Sweden. The hut construction, named Construction 24, has been interpreted as a construction for ceremonial activities by earlier researchers (Larsson 1988b). This interpretation is challenged by the new information from the osteological investigation. The occurrence of articulated bone elements, earlier considered to be offerings, has been found to derive from butchering refuse. Concentrations of fish bones can be explained by cleaning of the hut floor rather than as conscious depositions. Futhermore, no antlers from red deer has been found, an item commonly found in graves on the site and therefore likely to appear in connection with ceremonial activities. A decidiuos tooth from a human child have been found but has by all likelihood been lost in vivo and does not, as also stated by earlier reserchers (Larsson 1988b), indicate that this construction is a grave. The abundant appearance of red ochre, another item otherwise commonly found in graves, can be interpreted as residues from a coloured tent showered by rainfalls. A comparison has been done with the osteological material from the culture layers on the site and is, with a couple of exceptions, consistent with this. The exceptions beeing a small amount of roe deer and a large amount of eel. This cannot be explained by taphonomic factors and has to derive from the actions of the mesolithic population, unknown under what circumstances. The conclusion of of the author is that Construction 24 should be interpreted as a common dwelling structure rather than one erected for ceremonial purposes. (Less)
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author
Persson, Åsa LU
supervisor
organization
course
ARKK01 20111
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
language
Swedish
id
2541226
date added to LUP
2012-09-27 09:54:01
date last changed
2012-09-27 09:54:01
@misc{2541226,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this paper has been to undertake an osteological investigation of an unresearched bone assemblage of a hut construction from the late mesolithic dwelling site of Skateholm on the south coast of Sweden. The hut construction, named Construction 24, has been interpreted as a construction for ceremonial activities by earlier researchers (Larsson 1988b). This interpretation is challenged by the new information from the osteological investigation. The occurrence of articulated bone elements, earlier considered to be offerings, has been found to derive from butchering refuse. Concentrations of fish bones can be explained by cleaning of the hut floor rather than as conscious depositions. Futhermore, no antlers from red deer has been found, an item commonly found in graves on the site and therefore likely to appear in connection with ceremonial activities. A decidiuos tooth from a human child have been found but has by all likelihood been lost in vivo and does not, as also stated by earlier reserchers (Larsson 1988b), indicate that this construction is a grave. The abundant appearance of red ochre, another item otherwise commonly found in graves, can be interpreted as residues from a coloured tent showered by rainfalls. A comparison has been done with the osteological material from the culture layers on the site and is, with a couple of exceptions, consistent with this. The exceptions beeing a small amount of roe deer and a large amount of eel. This cannot be explained by taphonomic factors and has to derive from the actions of the mesolithic population, unknown under what circumstances. The conclusion of of the author is that Construction 24 should be interpreted as a common dwelling structure rather than one erected for ceremonial purposes.}},
  author       = {{Persson, Åsa}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Ett kulthus - eller bara ett kul hus? Ett animalosteologiskt perspektiv på en hyddbotten på den mesolitiska boplatsen Skateholm II}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}